Recovery funds not for everyone

Times Contributor

 

Over 100 homeowners of flood ravaged Hidden Valley Golf Resort (HVGR) packed the Milo Community Hall on July 9. They expressed their outrage at being ignored by Provincial Disaster and Recovery services. 

Ian Donovan, Wildrose MLA for the Little Bow District, and members of the Homeowners Association Board along with Manager Dick Burgess, were on hand to listen to remarks and help get government attention for recovery needs. Danielle Smith and Jason Hale had other engagements and did not attend. No Federal, Native, Disaster Service or Conservative representatives were there to hear concerns.

“The biggest block that we have had is to get communication going,” said Donovan. “This seems to be the forgotten child, so I guess this is a good place where we can raise our voice be able to get our names and numbers down. There is a good communication process here, that didn’t get washed away. We will try to lobby government and see where we go from there.”

Donovan said homeowners just wanted to get an average value for houses that were destroyed or washed away. 

Some people were granted the $1,250 cash relief, but others were denied. 

Provincial definitions only allow residents who use the homes as a primary residence to receive funds from the Disaster Recovery program. Minister Doug Griffiths issued this statement regarding the issue.

“As you may know, Disaster Recovery Programs provide financial assistance for homeowners to repair or rebuild their primary residence and other uninsurable property damage and loss. We have reviewed the complex ownership and residence issues at Hidden Valley Golf Resort, and have determined that homeowners at the resort, who can demonstrate they do not have another residence in Canada, will be eligible to receive funding under the Disaster Recovery Program guidelines,” said Griffiths. “I must reiterate that the Government of Alberta’s focus is on supporting Albertans who do not have a home to live in as a result of the floods. This has been our approach for all Southern Alberta communities impacted by the recent flooding and our decision regarding support for Hidden Valley residents is consistent with this principle. Vacation homes remain ineligible under the disaster recovery program.”

Registration stations were set up at the Siksika Resource Development office on July 14 – 15. Those who lost homes can resituate free of charge, to the temporary housing set up outside High River and southeast Calgary. Thirty of the 305 HVGR residents may consider this option. Some people are snow-birds; others have a principal residence at HVGR, but rent a place elsewhere for work or vacation. 

Excluded residents took exception to the funding criteria and said they felt penalized. Some built homes, investing money as part of their retirement plan. Some rent homes. Many felt they all pay income tax and everyone affected by flooding should be compensated. To some the definition is based on how many nights you sleep in the same bed. It was questioned whether people in the Canmore or Calgary area were refused because they owned more than one home.

It was also mentioned that parents purchased homes for their children and were denied, forcing children to move back home. Landlords owning rental units had been denied compensation, which also hurt displaced renters who have lost everything. Many owners displaced from their own homes are evicting renters, leading to a chain of pain. 

Residents wanted information on the reclamation of Slave Lake. They wanted to see if procedures compared to recovery for flood victims.